Project to Improve Methods Courses in Elementary Science

美国加州州立大学长滩分校将为教授基础科学方法课程的大学教员举办暑期研修班，开展改善基础科学方法课程的项目。该项目旨在通过加强每学期招收大量小学职前教师的小学科学方法课程，改善小学生的科学教育。示范教师和科学教师教育专家将主持这些暑期工作坊，参加者将了解最新的研究成果和新的科学教学方法，并与同事交流意见和建立新的联系。预计这些方法的教师将回到他们的母校，以刺激教师教育的变化，并帮助建立科学和教育院系之间的联系。在夏季讲习班之后，将通过电子网络、通讯和年会进行系统的沟通和持续的后续行动。作为后续活动的结果，将编制一系列初级科学方法课程的资源材料以供分发。1990年夏季将举办一个试验性讲习班，1991年夏季将举办另外三个讲习班。讲习班将在美国各地的不同地点举行，其中一个讲习班将在一所教育大量少数民族学生的机构举行。该项目的总费用分摊额为NSF捐款的24%。

California State University, Long Beach, will carry out a project to improve methods courses in elementary science by conducting summer workshops for college and university instructors who teach the elementary science methods course. The project seeks to improve science education for elementary school children by strengthening the elementary science methods courses which enroll large numbers of elementary preservice teachers each semester. Exemplary instructors and science teacher education specialists will conduct these summer workshops, and the participants will learn about recent research findings and new science teaching methods while exchanging ideas and forging new connections with colleagues. It is anticipated that these methods instructors will return to their home institutions to stimulate change in teacher education and help create links between the science and education faculties at their institutions. Systematic communication and continuing follow-up will take place after the summer workshops through electronic networking, newsletters, and annual meetings. As a result of the follow- up activities, an array of resource materials for elementary science methods courses will be developed for dissemination. A pilot workshop will be conducted during the summer of 1990, and three additional workshops will take place during the summer of 1991. The workshops will be held at various geographical locations throughout the U.S., and one of the workshops will take place at an institution that educates large numbers of minority students. The total cost sharing for the project is 24% of NSF's contribution.